Strong wind and a win go well together

By Pete Mollica

Sophomore outfielder Eric Marzec stood out offensively and as a relief pitcher as YSU beat Bowling Green, 18-13.

STRUTHERS — Youngstown State’s baseball team is undefeated and hitting at a .464 clip at home this season.

Unfortunately for the Penguins, they’ve only played two games at home.

Tuesday afternoon, battling 25-to-30 mph winds, the Penguins outlasted Bowling Green in an 18-13 slugfest at Cene Park.

The Penguins (6-15) have pounded out 39 hits and scored 30 runs in their two home contests, which excites first-year coach Rich Pasquale since 14 of their next 16 games are at home.

Tuesday the Penguins produced 21 hits, just the 10th time in school history YSU had has more than 20 hits in a game. The last time they did it was a year ago with 23 hits against Butler, while the record is 24 hits in a 1988 game against California (Pa.)

YSU came from behind twice in the contest before breaking things open with a six-run rally in the seventh inning.

“I told the kids that the sign of a good team is one that when it falls behind, comes battling right back and we did that several times today,” said Pasquale.

“We are a team that has to work for everything we get and today we not only had to battle Bowling Green but a terrible wind that played havoc with just about every ball hit in the air,” Pasquale added.

Sophomore outfielder Eric Marzec came up with an outstanding game for the Penguins.

Marzec, who had been struggling at the plate and was hitting just .139 coming into the game, ripped three hits, including a triple, and drove in four runs while scoring three times. Then in the top of the eighth inning, when Bowling Green threatened to rally, Marzec came out of right field and got the final five outs of the contest to earn his first save of the year.

“I’ve always been a starter, but [ Pasquale] wanted me to try coming in relief this year and it’s probably the best thing I could have done,” Marzec said. “I really don’t need much time to warm up, that’s just the way my arm is, so coming right in from the outfield was really no problem.”

“I was glad to see the bat finally come around today,” he said. “I’ve been struggling a little, but it’s good to be playing at home and we’re doing very well here.”

Marzec said the wind was brutal.

“I was out there in right field and it was almost impossible to judge anything. The wind took the ball all over the place.”

Bowling Green jumped out to a 3-1 lead, scoring single runs in each of the first three innings. YSU scored in the second on Marzec’s first RBI single.

Then in the third the Penguins exploded for seven runs, sending 11 batters to the plate that resulted in six hits, a walk and an error. Senior Sean Lucas had two RBIs, while Marzec added his triple and sophomore Cory Hornyak had his first career home run for two more RBIs.

But YSU starter Adam Kalafos just couldn’t hold the 8-3 lead as the Falcons scored seven runs in the fifth. Joe Antinone came on in relief to get the Penguins out of the inning.

YSU tied the score at 10-10 with two runs in the bottom of the fifth, as senior Erich Diedrich and freshman Joe Iacobucci drove in the runs.

Then came the seventh when the Penguins scored six more runs and sent 10 batters to the plate. Marzec drove in two runs, while Dustin Wachter, Anthony Munoz, Josh Page and Hornyak all had RBIs.

Antinone got into trouble in the eighth when he allowed a three-run homer to Derek Spencer, but Marzec came on and got the final two outs and then retired the Falcons in order in the ninth.

The Penguins will play host to Duquesne today and Tiffin Thursday. Both games are scheduled for 3 p.m. starts at Cene Park.

The Penguins play host to Valparaiso Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m. at Eastwood Field.

mollica@vindy.com